Geingob ‘not out of race’

FORMER Prime Minister Hage Geingob plans a comeback to frontline Swapo politics and will contest the nomination for the party’s presidential race in May, his closest allies claim.

The allies, who have met with Geingob on separate occasions over the past few months, said the former Prime Minister was unhappy about media reports suggesting that he was out of the race and might not attend the extraordinary Congress. “It would be fairer to contact the former PM instead of concluding that he is out of the running simply because he resigned from Parliament and has a job in Washington D.C. The former PM is going to contest too,” said one Swapo leader.Before the Swapo Congress in August 2002, Geingob and Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya were considered to be the two leading candidates within the ruling party for the vice presidential position.However, in what was considered a wily move, Nujoma pushed Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba into the job, leading the congress into rubber-stamping his choice after accusing unnamed Swapo leaders of fomenting division within the party by campaigning for posts.The reference was understood to be directed at Geingob and Hamutenya.The day after the congress, Geingob was removed as Prime Minister and Hamutenya was shifted from Trade and Industry to the Foreign Affairs portfolio.Geingob left the country last year to become administrator of Global Coalition for Africa, an inter-governental forum that aims to promote development in Africa.With Nujoma widely expected to step down as President next year, internal Swapo politics are heating up ahead of the extraordinary Congress in May where a candidate will be chosen to contest the December elections.Hamutenya is considered to be the leading candidate by a wide margin with many writing Geingob off because of his absence.Party insiders believe Nujoma favours Pohamba – said to be reluctant and lacking the necessary support to challenge Hamutenya.Some tip Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation Minister Nahas Angula as the dark horse.Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab’s chances are considered slim.When asked if he would accept the nomination if the speculation was well-founded, Geingob, on the telephone from his office Washington D.C., would neither confirm nor deny any presidential ambitions.”I will not comment on that. I’m not even there. There are rules and procedures. I am far from there. I’m here, and I’m snowed in,” he said, maintaining he was not aware of people planning to nominate him. “It must be an independent contingent,” said Geingob.But he dismissed suggestions that he had resigned from the Swapo Central Committee, the body that finalised the agenda for Congress.”That’s a lie. I’ll be there. If it’s a Central Committee meeting I’ll be there,” said Geingob.Hamutenya, the man who was considered Geingob’s main rival, also declined to talk about his presidential ambitions.Pohamba, who was quoted in a local newspaper confirming his availability and then swiftly denying it, also refused to comment.Higher Education Minister Angula said he would not talk about Swapo’s presidential candidate until it was clear Nujoma would resign.”I will only answer that question when there is a vacancy for the post. When you hear there is a vacancy, you can come and ask me … ” about whether he would accept the nomination.Meanwhile, The Namibian understands that the Swapo Politburo has pushed for the faster implementation of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, which the Congress said must be established in honour of Namibia’s liberation war hero.The fast-tracking of the foundation is viewed by some insiders as part of an “exit plan” for Nujoma.But Swapo Secretary for Information and Mobilisation Netumbo Ndaitwah would not say when the foundation would become operational when approached about the matter.She would not comment about reports that the last Politburo meeting at the end of last year had ordered creation of the foundation be speeded up.”It would be fairer to contact the former PM instead of concluding that he is out of the running simply because he resigned from Parliament and has a job in Washington D.C. The former PM is going to contest too,” said one Swapo leader. Before the Swapo Congress in August 2002, Geingob and Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya were considered to be the two leading candidates within the ruling party for the vice presidential position. However, in what was considered a wily move, Nujoma pushed Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba into the job, leading the congress into rubber-stamping his choice after accusing unnamed Swapo leaders of fomenting division within the party by campaigning for posts. The reference was understood to be directed at Geingob and Hamutenya. The day after the congress, Geingob was removed as Prime Minister and Hamutenya was shifted from Trade and Industry to the Foreign Affairs portfolio. Geingob left the country last year to become administrator of Global Coalition for Africa, an inter-governental forum that aims to promote development in Africa. With Nujoma widely expected to step down as President next year, internal Swapo politics are heating up ahead of the extraordinary Congress in May where a candidate will be chosen to contest the December elections. Hamutenya is considered to be the leading candidate by a wide margin with many writing Geingob off because of his absence. Party insiders believe Nujoma favours Pohamba – said to be reluctant and lacking the necessary support to challenge Hamutenya. Some tip Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation Minister Nahas Angula as the dark horse. Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab’s chances are considered slim. When asked if he would accept the nomination if the speculation was well-founded, Geingob, on the telephone from his office Washington D.C., would neither confirm nor deny any presidential ambitions. “I will not comment on that. I’m not even there. There are rules and procedures. I am far from there. I’m here, and I’m snowed in,” he said, maintaining he was not aware of people planning to nominate him. “It must be an independent contingent,” said Geingob. But he dismissed suggestions that he had resigned from the Swapo Central Committee, the body that finalised the agenda for Congress. “That’s a lie. I’ll be there. If it’s a Central Committee meeting I’ll be there,” said Geingob. Hamutenya, the man who was considered Geingob’s main rival, also declined to talk about his presidential ambitions. Pohamba, who was quoted in a local newspaper confirming his availability and then swiftly denying it, also refused to comment. Higher Education Minister Angula said he would not talk about Swapo’s presidential candidate until it was clear Nujoma would resign. “I will only answer that question when there is a vacancy for the post. When you hear there is a vacancy, you can come and ask me … ” about whether he would accept the nomination. Meanwhile, The Namibian understands that the Swapo Politburo has pushed for the faster implementation of the Sam Nujoma Foundation, which the Congress said must be established in honour of Namibia’s liberation war hero. The fast-tracking of the foundation is viewed by some insiders as part of an “exit plan” for Nujoma. But Swapo Secretary for Information and Mobilisation Netumbo Ndaitwah would not say when the foundation would become operational when approached about the matter. She would not comment about reports that the last Politburo meeting at the end of last year had ordered creation of the foundation be speeded up.